Distributor for bitumen and like material



June 7, 1949. G. M. E'4I'NYRE 2,472,199

DISTRIBUTOR FOR BITUMEN AND LIKE MATERIAL Filed Dec. 8, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 7, 1949. G. M. ETNYRE- DISTRIBUTOR FOR BITUMEN AND LIKE MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1945 NVEZN T George 3m.

June 1949- G. M. ETNYRE 2,472,199

DISTRIBUTOR FOR BITUMEN AND LIKE MATERIAL Filed Dec. 8, 1945 5 Shets-Sheet s 44g, Ma.

from and returned to the supply tank. As shown in Fig. 7 each conduit 26, 21 is arranged to have a low point therein, indicated at 40, when the distributor bar is elevated. Small pipes 4| opening at the bottom of these low points communicate with the intake pipe 39 through a control valve 42a arranged to connect either or both of pipes 4| with the intake pipe 39. When so connected and with the system in its filling condition, suction of the pump 23 is utilized to return to the supply tank all material draining to the low points.

In general the distributor bar illustrated herein is an elongated member preferably comprising a fixed central section 42 (Fig. 3) and two end sections 43 which are relatively movable from an alined position with respect to the intermediate section to a vertical nonalined and out of the way position as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2. The distributor bar, including the two end sections 43 thereof, is provided with a series of discharge nozzle units 44 of suitable construction. In the present instance each discharge nozzle unit comprises a pair of nozzles having a common connection with the distributor bar, the flow of material being controlled by a suitable cut-01f valve. All of the valve actuating levers may be connected by suitable actuating members for simultaneous opening and closing.

The material inlets or flow passages 30 and 3! are shown clearly in Figs. 3 and located intermediate the ends of the bar and preferably at the ends of the intermediate section 42. Referring to Fig. 5 the intermediate section has at each end a U-shaped fitting 45 which may be integral or permanently connected through one arm to the intermediate section. The other arm of the fitting is in the same fiat plane as the intermediate section and has a slightly tapered externally finished surface rotatably to receive an internally complemental tubular sleeve 46 formed at one end of an end section 43. Each end section is suitably held on its associated arm for relative rotational movement as by a screw threaded stud 41 projecting from an end wall '48 on the arm for engagement by a nut 49 to hold an over-sized washer 50 in limiting abutment with the end of the sleeve 46. An elongated aperture 5! suitably formed in the side wall of the arm afiords communication between the interior of the fitting 45 and the end section associated therewith. The base or bend of the fitting has an inlet aperture defined by a flange 52 which forms a part of one of the universal connections 33.

An important feature of the improved apparatus is the provision in a distributing bar having inlets thereto which are spaced from the ends of the bar of means for effecting a circulating fiow of material throughout the distributor bar from one end to the other. As has been described, the system may be set so the material will be delivered to the distributor bar through one of the fiow passages or inlets (as shown, the right hand inlet) and flow from the bar through the other (the left) fiow passage. Normally this would produce a flow of material through the intermediate section of the bar between the inlets but the material in the end sections would not be circulated.

In the present embodiment each of the end sections is constructed to form contiguous channels or passages for the circulation of fluid therethrough through the provision of a tube 53 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5), of substantially less diameter than the internal diameter of the section, extending from a point closely adjacent to the outer end of the section into a boss 54 formed as a part of the end section sleeve 46. The associated arm of the fitting 45 has a transverse wall 55 spaced from the end wall 48 to provide a closed chamber 56 at the end of the arm. Each tube 53 communicates with its chamber 56 through a bore 51 in the boss and through one or another of a series of appropriately positioned apertures 58 in the side wall of the arm. The apertures 58 are so disposed that the tube 53 will communicate therewith in either the alined or unalined position of an end section relative to the intermediate section. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the tubes 53 are located at one side (herein the front side) of their respective end sections 43, although they may be variously positioned as may be desired. Similarly, the elongated portion of the tube 59a. is shown positioned adjacent the front side of the main section 42.

Two tubes 59 and 59a respectively open into the left and right hand chambers 56 through their walls 55. One of the tubes extends from the chamber of the left hand fitting forwardly as seen in Fig. 5 so as to terminate in the left hand flow passage 30. The other tube 59a. leads from the chamber 56 in the right hand fitting and runs the length of the intermediate bar section and then rearwardly, terminating in the flow passage 30. As shown, the ends of the two tubes 59 and 590. are joined together and to the walls of the fitting as by welding (Figs. 5 and 5a).

During the operation of the system when set for distribution, the material is delivered to the end and intermediate sections of the distributor bar through both of the inlet or flow passages 30 and 3|. The use of both fiow passages for the delivery of material to the distributor bar during distribution increases the rate at which material may be distributed. Other aids to the rate of distribution which improve that rate for distributing apparatus of reasonable size result from an increase of the flow pressure during distribution and from the fact that the inner tubes 53 and 59, 59a. are constructed and arranged to carry material to the end portions of the bar during distribution, the pressures at the outer extremities of the tubes 53, adjacent the discharge nozzles, being relatively low. As a result of these differences in pressure, the tubes 53 and 59 carry material during distribution and thereby compensate for their occupation of space during that phase of the operation of the distributor system. This flow keeps all sections of the distributor bar fully supplied with material.

When the system is set for a circulating flow (as shown in Fig. 6) the material passes into the right hand flow passage 3| of the distributor bar and part of it will fiow through the intermediate bar section to the left hand flow passage 30. Material will also fiow into both end sections and thence reversely through tubes 53, chambers 56 and tubes 59 and 59a to the left hand fiow passage 30 for return to the supply tank. The tubes 53 and 59 coact with the several sections of the distributor bar to form contiguous flow channels whereby to efiect circulation of the material through the end as well as through the intermediate sections of the bar.

To insure delivery of material to the left hand section of the bar for circulation therethrough, the effective cross sectional area of the left hand flow passage 30 with the upper ends of the pipes 59 projecting into it is made smaller than the cross sectional area of the right hand leg of the U-shaped fitting 45 so that a portion of the material is diverted to the left hand leg of the fitting and thence by way of the aperture 5| to the left hand bar section 43. At the same time a zone of reduced pressure is produced in the region immediately above the tubes inducing a return flow of the material through the tubes 53 and 59. Thus the distributing operation of the system may be temporarily interrupted for indeterminate periods of time during which material may be caused to circulate continually throughout practically every part of the system thereby preventing solidification of the material in the conduits or where it might interfere with flow to any nozzle, and maintaining the system in condition for immediate resumption of operation. When operation of the system is to be discontinued entirely, the distributor bar will be elevated and the residual material drained from the system (Fig. 7). It will be noted that when the bar is elevated the tubes 53, 59 and chambers 56 will drain by gravity to the low points 40 of the system.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and herein described in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a distributor of the character described, a bar comprising inner and outer pipes, means closing said pipes at one end collectively and establishing communication therebetween, means for supplying one of said pipes with material to be dispensed, means in the outer pipe for dispensing said material, means for folding a portion of said bar relative to another portion thereof, and means in said folding means for maintaining communication between the respective pipes of the respective portions in a plurality of angular positions thereof.

2. In a spray bar of the character described, a bar section comprising pipes, one within the other, means closing the ends of said pipes collectively and establishing communication therebetween, means for supplying one of said pipes with material to be dispensed, means in the outermost pipe for dispensing said material, means for folding a portion of said section relative to another portion thereof, and means in said folding means for maintaining communication between the respective pipes of the respective portions in selected angular positions thereof.

3. A distributor bar for bituminous material and the like comprising, in combination, two substantially alined sections each having a pair of contiguous flow passages, hinge means connecting said sections and providing two passages respectively connecting th passages in adjacent sections of the bar, the passages in one section communicating with each other at the ends thereof remote from the other section, inlet means communicating with one of said connecting passages, and outlet means communicating with the other of said connecting passages.

4. A distributor bar for bituminous material or the like, having a fixed section with an outlet at one end, a pivoted section, U-shaped hinge means connecting said sections comprising two substantially parallel leg portions respectively connected to the two sections and a connecting yoke portion having a material inlet for the material to be distributed, said fixed section having two passages extending lengthwise thereof and both communicating at one end with said outlet and said pivotal section having two passages extending lengthwise thereof and communicating with each other at their outer ends, and said hinge means providing two passages respectively connecting the two passages in each of the two sections both communicating with said outlet and one with said inlet.

5. A distributor bar for bituminous material or the like, having a fixed section with an outlet at one end, a pivoted section, U-shaped hinge means connecting said sections comprising two substantially parallel leg portions respectively connected to the two sections and a connecting yoke portion having a material inlet for the material to be distributed, said pivotal section having two passages extending lengthwise thereof and communicating with each other at their outer ends, and said hinge means providing two passages both communicating with said outlet and one communicating with said inlet.

6. A distributor bar for bituminous material comprising a fixed section having an outlet at one end. a pivotal section, U-shaped hinge means connecting said two sections and comprising two substantially parallel leg portions respectively connected with the two sections and a yoke portion having a material inlet communicating with each of said sections, and means providing a separate circulating passage extending from the end of the pivotal section through the hinge means and said fixed section to said outlet, said circulating passage opening into the outer end of the pivotal section.

7. A distributor bar for bituminous material or the like comprising, in combination, a member providing a flow passage constituting a material supply conduit, an outlet conduit, a distributor bar section mounted for swinging movement relative to said member, a member disposed in said section defining inner and outer passages extending longitudinally thereof and communicating with each other at their outer ends. the outer one of said passages communieating with said material supply conduit. a series of valved outlet nozzles mounted on and spaced apart longitudinally of said section. said nozzles communicating with said outer passage for the discharge of the material delivered through said supply conduit, and means connect ng the inner end of said inner passage with said outlet conduit for discharge of the material thereto when said valved nozzles are closed.

GEORGE M. ETNYRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,114,592 De Witt Oct. 20, 1914 1,325,513 Fricker Dec. 23, 1919 1,743,245 Smith Jan. 14, 1930 1,851,538 Day et al. Mar. 29, 1932 1,888,072 Cederstrom Nov. 15, 1932 2,046,373 Etnyre July 7, 1936 2,153,356 Walker 1 Apr. 4, 1939 2,256,639 Erickson Sept. 23, 1941 2,342,120 Cartwright Feb. 22, 1944 

